Apparatus for control of variable cut-off valve gears



Oct 27,1931. R. E. BRUCKNER APPARATUS FOR CONTRQL 0F VARIABLE CUT-O FF VALVE GEARS Filed oct.` 11, '1926 2 sheets-shew 1 INVENToR.

BY y# ATTORNEYS.

`Ot.?7, 19371. R. E. BRUC'KNER 1,828,956

APPARATUSA FQR CONTROL OF VARIABLE CUT-OFF VALVE GEARS l Filed oct. 11, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 l Z z 5 1 l n i I WMM - INVENToR.

G l l 'm BY. f/czma A TTORN E YS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ROBERT mm BRUCHE, l' HASTI'NGB-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOB CONTROL 0l' VARIABLE CUT-OFF VALVE GEABS Application med oct-ober 11, me. seran no. 140,997.

It is desirable with certain types of engines and motors utilizing variable cut-olf valvey gears to vary the cut-off in responseto the pressures of the fluids flowing to the motor l and in some cases in response `to the fluids flowing from the motor and in other cases in response to the pressures of the fluids both flowing to and from the motor. Such a motor is indicated in my coilending application, Serial Number 137,158, ed Se t. 22nd, 1926 in which the actuating fluid o the motor is in a closed circuit, all of which is maintained substantially above atmospheric pressure.

Under such conditionsof use the most eilivcient use of the fluid in transmitting energy through the motor is accomplished by a cutoi responding to pressure changes in the `fluid in the circuit. The lpresent application .provides a means where y the cut-oil will 420 automatically respond to variations in pressure, and control the cut-olf to 've it the most efficient location for the particular pressure conditions of the circuit and also may be utilized in giving to the motor conditions of operation in response to such pressure conditions making it more res onslveor available for the transmission o energy as in the device of the type described in said application. Features and details of the invention 80 will appear from the specification and claims. I

An apparatus exemplifying the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings as follows l Fig. 1 shows a side elevation ofthe apparatus` partly in section. v

Fig. 2 a top view of a part of the control mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a view similar to Fig. 1 with a variation inthe set of the valve gear.

Fig. 4 a similar view with the valve gear set inreverse.

c1 marks the motor cylinder 1a the piston in the cylinder, 2 the drive wheels of a locomotive, 3 the pitman., 4 the connecting rod between drive cranks 2a on the drive wheels, and 5 a piston rod connected with the piston of the motor and operating through the usual cross head 5a. i

The valve gear is driven from a crank 7 carried by one of the-drive wheels and delivers its motion through a link 8 to a slotted cut-olf link 9 which is pivoted to a frame 12a at 12. ,A valve rod v11 is connected with any ordinary slide valve 11a and is connected through a joint 13 with the adjustable link 10. The adjustable link is connected with a sliding block 10a arranged in a slot 9a of the slotted link 9. The adjustable'link 10 may be manually controlled through a link 14 whlch is connected with the adjustable link 1() through a pin and slot connection 10b and a bell crank lever 15. The bell crank lever is pivoted to the frame 12a by a pin 17 and is actuated by a manual cut-olf control rod 16. This rod l'extends through a guidev plate 30a and is normally free to movelwhen the cut-off is under the control of the automatic control mechanism hereinafter described. These parts operate in the manner of an ordinary variable cut-olf reversible.,

valve ear. A convenient controllever 43 is prov1ded. This is pivotally mounted on a f pin 44 carried by the frame 12a and is held in neutral position, shown in Fig. l, by a spring 43a. T e upper end 43?) of the'lever 43 engages pins 42.-.42 spaced apart on the rod 16 so that as the rod is moved through the automatic pressure device hereinafter described the lever 43 does not interefere with the free movement of the pin 16. The position 0f the handle is shown at neutral at A, as starting in reverse at B, and starting ahead at C. It is often desirable to balance the weight of the valve gear parts. A spring 46 is arranged around the rod 16 and lis tensioned between 'thecollar 41 and the guide 30a. This spring has a strength to approximatel balance the wei ht of the valve linkage. he operating lui is delivered to the motor through an inlet passage, or pipe 18 an hausts through a pipe 19. y

The pressure responsive controllin device has a cylinder 20 and this cylinder is connected at one end with the inlet pipe 18 by a pipe 21. The opposite end ofthe cylinder is connected with the exhaust pipe 19 Vby a pipe 22. A piston 23 is arranged in the cylin er and is subjected to the opposing d the motor 4expressures delivered to the cylinder through f the pipes 2l and 22. It is also subjected to mounted in the slot of the control reversing link and has its pivotal support fixed on a link `28. ril`he link 28 is connected by a in 28?) with a reciprocating rod 29 mounte \in brackets 30 secured to the frame 12a. A co1- lar 3l is xed on the rod 29`and operates against a spring 32a which spring operates against a slidable block 32 carrying a roller 32o. 'lhe slidable block abuts a collar 325 on the rod limiting its movement and operates normall as a fixed member on the rod 29. The rol er 32a operates against an arm of a bell crank 33, this bell crank being pivoted by a pin 33a on the frame 12a and the opposite end of the bell crank is connected by a pin 335 with the link 14. A stop 23a limits the movement of the piston toward the left when influenced by a decided drop in the intake pressure with a comparatively hi her exhaust pressure and a stop 236 forme by a rod extending from the piston limits the movement of the piiston 23 to the right under an excessive inta e pressure. The link 28 is connected b a pin 34 with a rod 35. The rod 35 exten s through brackets 36 forming a part of the frame and is connected with a bell crank lever 37. The bell crank lever is pivoted by means of a in 37a on the frame 12a and is supplied wit an operating rod 38 leading to a reversing lever 45, the rod 38 being connected to the reversing lever by a pin 45a.- The reversing lever is pivoted on a pin 45a mounted on the frame 12a. A segment 47 is also carried by the frame. The usual locking pin 45?) in the lever 45 is adapted to engage notches 45d to lock the lever in forward, or reverse position on the segment, thus locking the element 28 in forward or reverse position. The rod 35 is provided with a ystop collar 35a which engages the brackets 36 and by means of which the throw of the pin 34 may he limited and consequently the movement'of the lever 28 to the osition it is desired, to rock the arm 26. T e pin 34 is arranged in a slot 40 and the walls of this slot are so formed as to permit the movement of the rocker link 26 under theinfluence `of theA piston carryin with it the rod 29. In forming "this slot t eV upper wall of the slot should be such that it will follow the in 34 as the roller 28a is rocked by the 11nk 26 and the pin 286 moves with the axis of the e through the pipe 21. The spring assente 29, the only pur yose of the engagement being to maintain t e rocker in its proper position in the link 26. The lrod 35 may be maintained in its locked position, reverse or forward, and the control movement of the piston 23 be communicated through the mem- `ber 28 to the rod 29.

The operation of the device is as follows: As shown in the drawings, il ig. l, the intake pressure has reached a `maximum andlias forced the piston 23 to the right to the limit of its movement as controlled by the stop 235 and at this position it is at the zero or mim- Inum point oi' cut-od. The stop 23a limits the movement ot the piston in the direction of maximum cut-0E in response to pressure conditions involving a comparative reduction in inlet pressure and anincrease in exhaust pressure. lWith a drop in the pressure and a movement of the piston 23 to the left the rod 29, through the linkage, is moved toward the right permitting the link 14 to drop as the bell crank lever follows theiod 29, thus permitting the block 10a to move downwardly in the slot 9a and increase the cut-oil'. Fig. 3 shows the inlet pressure dropped to a minimum and a movement of the piston 23 to its extreme position to the left and a consequent movement of the rod 29 to its extreme position to the right.

If it is desired to reverse the operation of the linka e the link 28 is dropped to the position s own in Fig. 4 through the action of a rod 35. n f

It may be desirable to vary the cut-off responses slightly with relation to the movement of the iston 23 and this may be accom- 'plished by orming the cam surfaces 330 on the face of the bell crank lever 33 engaged by the roller 320. By shaping this cam any variation in response to cut-od to a given movement of the piston desired may be accoxrplished.

i ith this device it is possible to give any desired cut-off in response to conditions of pressure and this is of great importance with motors in certain situations, particularly in motors as indicated in my former application used as a transmission device for the transmission of power from a prime mover.

It will be understood that if desired the automatic pressure control of the cut-off may be entirely thrown out of action and the cutoff controlled manually through the action of the control rod 16 operating through the linkage on the adjusting link 10. This is permitted by the yielding linkage o erating 1n the automatic control as provide by the spring 32a. It may be desirablev to limit the variations in cut-off through the pressure control and this is done in the 2present case by means of the stops 23a and b whereas with a manual control the point of cut-oil may be carried beyond this point.

The invention as illustrated provides an automatic control of the cut-olf for the predetermined desired degree of com leteness of expansion, and also rovides, i desired, an independent reversiblli of the operation of the valve mechanism an alsoprovides, if desired, an independent variation of the cutoil` at the will of the operator through a range extending beyond the normal automatlc c ontrol range.

l What I claim as new is 1. In a motor, ythe combination of a motor cylinder having inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-off valve gear therefor; and a pressure device connected with the inlet and exhaust .passages thereof and responslve to pressure differences therein varying the cut` oil' nation of a motor cylinder having inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-olf reversing valve gear therefor; a pressure device connected with the motor Huid passages and responsive to pressure differences therein; and a linkage between the pressure responsive device and the valve gear communicatin the movement of the pressure responsive evice I to the valve gear with the valve gear in both forward and reverse positions.

4. In a variable cut-off motor, the combination of a motor cylinder havin inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-o reversing A valve gear therefor; a pressure device conforward an nected with the motor fluid passages and responsive to pressure differences therein; a. linkage between the pressure responsive device and the valve gear communicatin the movement of the pressure responsive evice to the valve (gear with the valve gear in both reverse positions; and means reversing the valve gear and the linkage simultaneously. Y

5. In a motor, the combination of a motor cylinder having inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-oil valve ar therefor; a pressuredevice connected with the fluid pass of the cylinder and responsive to pressure 1fferences therein varying the cut-off and means manuall controlling the valve gear independently o .the device.

6. In a variable cut-off motor, the combination of a motor cylinder havin .inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-o reversing valve gear therefor; a pressure device connected with the motor fluid passages and responsive to pressure differences therein; a lmkage between the pressure responsive device and the valve gear communicating the movement of the pressure responsive device to the valve gear with the v'alve gear in both forward and reverse positions; and means lmanually reversing the valve gear independently of said device.

7. In a motor, the combination of a vmotor cylinder having inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-off valve ear therefor; a pressure device connected with the fluid passages of the cylinder and responsive to pressure differences therein varying the cut-olf; means limiting the range of cut-off in response to the action of said device; and means manually controlling the valve gear, said manual -means being adapted to extend or vary the cut-off beyond the range of variations of the cut-olf in response to the device.

8. In a motor, the combination of a motor cylinder having inlet and exhaust passages; a variable cut-off valve gear therefor; a pressure device connected with the inlet and exhaust passages thereof and responsive to pressure differences therein varying the cutoff through a range corresponding and respending to a range of variations of fluid pressure in the passages; and a linkage between the pressure responsive device and the valve gear communicating the movement of the pressure responsive device to the valve gear in both forward and reverse positions. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RCBERT EARLL BRUCKNER. 

